Rev. C.A. Procunier

Dates: b. Ontario, 24 February 1863 d. Kamloops 6 March 1940

Cemetery Location: Block F, Row 5, Plot 50

Profile:

Charles Ault Procunier served pioneer congregations for 30 years: 12 as a Methodist minister and 18 as an Anglican.

His first posting as a Methodist minister was in Springfield, Ontario, in 1885. Over the next few years he moved around the province in various postings before studying in Cobourg at Victoria University in 1888. In 1889, he served in Napinka, Manitoba, then Edmonton from 1890 to 1892. He was awarded his bachelor of Philosophy in 1894, then his Masters in 1896.

Charles married Jessie Annetta Maxfield in Edmonton in 1892, and the newlyweds arrived in Revelstoke in 1893, where he was Methodist minister until 1895. He later transferred to Kaslo, B.C., to serve the Ainsworth and Kaslo congregations, and after that, the Forte Steel Anglican Church. He returned to Revelstoke in 1900 to become the Anglican minister; a position he held 16 years.

Charles was a popular preacher, occasionally exchanging pulpits with ministers in other communities such as Vernon, Nakusp and Nelson.  He was on the school board for some years and joined the fledgling Alpine Club of Canada - Revelstoke Branch, assisting in the construction of a small chalet at the summit of Mount Revelstoke.

The Procuniers maintained a vegetable garden on their ranch just north of town and honey from their hives regularly won prizes at the Fall Fair. They hosted parties and sleigh rides, organized family picnics and assisted with a snowshoe club for teens.

The Procuniers had three children: Charles Jr., Irene and Iona. On 22 August 1909, Iona “Max” Procunier died of appendicitis at the age of 11. School was dismissed on the afternoon of her funeral.

During World War I, Rev. Procunier joined the army to serve as Captain (chaplain) in an Engineering unit. His son Charlie was wounded in action, taken prisoner by the Germans and interned for two years.

Charles died in Kamloops on March 6, 1940, at the age of 77. His wife Jessie died the day after her husband on 7 March, at the age of 67.